In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness, and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.
--SHAKESPEARE'S _Henry V_.
After the undecisive battle of Seven Pines the 47th regiment together
with the 40th and the 55th Virginia regiments and the 22nd Virginia
battalion was formed into a brigade, and this combination continued
until the close of the war. It was known as the First Brigade of the
Light Division, which was composed of six brigades, and commanded by
Maj.-Gen. A. P. Hill. Why it was called the Light division I did not
learn; but I know that the name was applicable, for we often marched
without coats, blankets, knapsacks, or any other burdens except our
arms and haversacks, which were never heavy and sometimes empty.
On Thursday, June 26, the memorable but miss-called "battles around
Richmond" began. Being on the left of the army, the First Brigade had
the honor and the danger of being the first to cross the Chickahominy.
Passing over Meadow bridge, we dispersed the enemy's outpost, only one
man being wounded in the passage, and hurried on towards Mechanicsville
and Beaver Dam, where was posted the extreme right of the Federal army.
The contest raged for six hours. We failed to dislodge the enemy from
its naturally strong and well-fortified position across Beaver Dam
creek, and our loss was heavy,--heavier in some other brigades than in
ours. The following morning, discovering that our antagonists had
withdrawn, we crossed over Beaver Dam in pursuit.
McClellan had decided to retreat! He called it a change of base; but if
a change of base from the York to the James river was good strategy,
why did he not do it before he was attacked? It looks very much as if he
gave "a reason upon compulsion." It must be conceded that he managed the
retreat with admirable ability, although, while inflicting severe
punishment upon Lee's army, it involved the loss of 10,000 prisoners, 52
pieces of artillery and 35,000 stand of small arms, besides immense
stores of ammunition and provisions. But why retreat? Was it for this
that he had led to the gates of Richmond a grand army of brave and
disciplined men, at an enormous cost to his government? Having many
qualities of a great commander, he lacked the _gaudium certaminis_ and
the daring that assumes the hazard of defeat. In war the adage holds
good with emphasis: "Nothing venture, nothing gain." The celebrated
generals of all times, confiding in their own skill and the bravery of
their soldiers, have been bold even to the degree of seeming rashness.
Such was the spirit and conduct of Lee when with half the numbers he
assaulted Hooker, and afterward Grant, in the Wilderness.
McClellan's army being astraddle the Chickahominy, two courses of action
were open to him when he was attacked.
He might have concentrated on the north side of the river, leaving a
sufficient force to guard the bridges in his rear, and then assumed a
strong defensive position. Having abandoned Beaver Dam he withdrew to
Gaines' Mill,--a place most favorable for defense,--still having 60,000
men in striking distance across the river. If instead of vacating that
position, or suffering a portion of his army to be driven from it, he
had reënforced it by a half of those unoccupied 60,000 men, I do not
believe he could have been dislodged by all the valor and dash of the
Confederate army.
The other line of action that he might have chosen was to concentrate on
the southern side of the river, destroy the bridges, and then crushing
the small army of Magruder, make a quick attack upon Richmond, while
the forces of Lee and Jackson were on the other side. It seems to me
that either course would have been better and nobler than the inglorious
retreat to Harrison's Landing. It appeared that Lee was gaining victory
after victory; but until the battle of Malvern Hill he was fighting only
portions of McClellan's forces. In that engagement alone did the Union
army contend with its undivided strength, and there it gained a victory.
If it could hold its ground there after having suffered many losses,
could it not much better have repulsed the Confederates at Gaines' Mill?
When the First Brigade advanced to the charge at Gaines' Mill, on the
27th of June, it emerged out of a wood into a large field, which
declined toward a ravine through which a stream of water ran, and on the
other side of which the ground rose somewhat precipitously to a
considerable altitude. It had been wisely chosen for defense, and the
opposite high ground was lined with infantry and crowned with
batteries. As it was impossible to dislodge the enemy until some
diversion should be created on one of his flanks, our men lay prone upon
the ground, while bullets and shells hurtled among us and above us. At
length seeing a brigade on our left rapidly advancing where the enemy's
position was less formidable, we rose up and, with the inspiring "rebel
yell," ran down the slope, crossed the little creek, clambered up the
hill, and poured a volley into the retiring Yankees, some of whom were
Duryea's Zouaves with their flaming uniforms. It was then that we more
than repaid them for the loss they had inflicted upon us. On that day
there fell some of my dearest friends, among whom was St. John F. Moody,
who for three years had been my teacher, and afterward became my beloved
companion. So patriotic and brave was he that if "_Dulce et decorum est
pro patria mori_" ever was true of any hero it was of him.
The next battle in which the brigade took part was that of Frazier's
Farm, three days later. As we entered a field we saw before us a
battery (which I believe was Randell's) supported by a firm line of
infantry. In Wilson's history of the war he says: "One of the most
brilliant charges of the day was made by the 55th and the 60th
Virginia." The correct statement is that it was made by our brigade
composed, as has been said, of the 40th, the 47th, the 55th, and the 22d
Virginia. We rushed across the field, drove away the opposing infantry,
and captured the battery. One of the gunners lying on the ground badly
wounded jerked the lanyard of a loaded cannon just as we had almost
reached the battery. Happily for us the discharge flew over our heads.
He knew that he was in our power, for all his comrades were fleeing
away, and he had no right to fire upon us. The deed was more like
vengeful murder than honorable war; however, we did him no harm, for
though his spirit was spiteful his pluck was commendable.
It was late in the afternoon; and as we stood in line by the captured
guns, ready to receive an expected countercharge, a lone horseman
approached who proved to be Major-General McCall, who in the fading
twilight had mistaken us for his own men. Hearing numerous cries to halt
and seeing many muskets leveled at him, he dismounted and led his horse
to where we stood. Being conducted before Colonel Mayo, he said, "For
God's sake, Colonel, don't let your men do me any harm." Colonel Mayo
was so indignant at the implied accusation that he used some cuss words,
and asked him whether he thought we were a set of barbarians. If he had
been captured in battle, I should have been glad; but, as it was, I felt
sorry for him, and if I could have had the disposal of him I would have
paroled him and turned him loose.
The First Brigade did not again come under fire until we reached Malvern
Hill, the 1st of July. There McClellan had skilfully stationed his
entire army, and all the valorous efforts of Lee's army to storm the
position were unavailing. One of our men addressed a North Carolina
regiment as "Tarheels" and received for answer, "If you had had some
tar on your heels, you would have stuck to that battery better than you
did."
McClellan, having for six days acted on the defensive, and in the last
engagement having been virtually victorious, had an opportunity to
assume the offensive; for in war as in the game of chess an unsuccessful
attack invites defeat. On the 2d of July, if he had inspirited his
regiments with the cry of "On to Richmond" and attacked the Confederates
unprepared for so surprising a reversal, who can tell what might have
been the result? Was it not worth the trial? And if he had failed, could
he not then have fallen back to the cover of the gunboats? But he was
bent on going to Harrison's Landing, and thither his army retreated all
night over a muddy road. Thus ended the second attempt to capture the
Confederate capital.